Page 169 - Records of Bahrain (4) (ii)_Neat

State finances, 1928-1932 471
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Tho Ruling Family in largo and over
increasing. Y/hon each young Shaikhling
marries he demnndo an nllowo/ice from the Civil
List. \Yhon, occasionally, nn old shaikh dio3
Shaikh Hamad always allots his salary to his
heirs. v.'ith 1 think^two exceptions,none of
the Ruling Family make any nttompts to earn

their Own living. Bocnusc they nre of the
Khalifa they aim expect to be supported from
State Funds. Almost all of them constantly
apply to Khaikh ilamad for higher allowances.
Shaikh Hamad is very good nntured and as tho
money is paid from State Funds, not from his
privy purse, he does not discourage these
demands.
Every year the State incurs additional
oxpcnditurc such as Eduuation, Municipalities,

etc., and the revenue does not increase corres­
pondingly .
At present there nre no serious finan­
cial difficulties but it is necessary to con­
sider the futuro.
I have talked to Shaikh liarnad on the
subject innumerable times but ho fails to appre­

ciate the necessity of keeping down the Civil
List. V/hen I speak about it £e he always
replies "Inohallah" 'the Rovonuo will Increase’1
It docs not.
I believe that Shaikh Hamad agreed to
make no changes in the Civil List without dis­
cussing it with the Political Agent, If this
is so I should be greatly assisted if you would
oeo your way to writing an official reminder